Uni-CV: Astrigilda Silveira Inaugurated as New Rector
PRAIA, Cape Verde – Seeking to usher in a new era for Cape Verde’s premier academic institution, Astrigilda Silveira was officially inaugurated as the Rector of the University of Cape Verde (Uni-CV) today. In a ceremony marked by calls for reform, Silveira pledged to prioritize career advancement for staff and instill a culture of rigorous transparency in the university’s governance.
A Focus on Personnel and Progress
Speaking at her inauguration, Rector Silveira emphasized that her immediate strategic goal is the regularization and structuring of careers for the university’s technical and administrative staff. She tied the institution’s overall strength directly to the well-being of its employees.
“I assume this mandate with humility and determination, aware that leading a public university is, above all, about serving knowledge and our youth,” Silveira stated. “Dignifying the work of our staff strengthens the university, improves our services, and builds a culture of recognition. We will achieve this through dialogue, rigor, responsibility, and justice.”
Her commitment extends beyond administrative staff; she vowed to ensure dignified working conditions across all university sectors, including pedagogical, scientific, and institutional departments.
A Ten-Year Vision
While her official mandate spans four years, Silveira revealed that her strategic planning looks much further ahead. She outlined a ten-year vision intended to transcend short-term electoral cycles.
“Institutional transformation requires continuity, coherence, and the courage to look toward the legacy we want to leave for future generations,” she noted. Her management philosophy, she added, would be guided by the principles of economy, efficiency, and effectiveness—optimizing resources while maximizing the university’s impact.
The new Rector also highlighted internationalization as a cornerstone of her tenure, specifically naming the Cape Verdean scientific diaspora as a vital partner for future training, research, and innovation initiatives.
Political and Academic Support
Minister of Education Amadeu Cruz, who presided over the ceremony, hailed the appointment as a “new stage” for Uni-CV. He described the transition as a vital opportunity to strengthen the institution’s commitment to innovation and inclusion.
The outgoing rector, José Arlindo Barreto, reflected on his tenure with gratitude and expressed high confidence in his successor. Barreto noted that the transition represents “the affirmation of confidence in merit and female leadership.”
An Institutional Powerhouse
Silveira’s election in February was a hard-fought victory. After emerging from a crowded field of seven candidates in the first round, she secured the rectorate in a second-round runoff with 50.65% of the vote.
She now leads an institution that serves over 4,000 students across campuses in Praia, Assomada, and São Vicente. The university’s flagship Praia campus is a state-of-the-art facility inaugurated in 2021. Financed through a 5.6 billion escudo (50.7 million euro) investment supported by China, the 28,000-square-meter campus serves as a hub for Cape Verdean higher education, featuring 18 buildings including advanced laboratories, student housing, and a sprawling library.
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